St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-09
A GIRL BULL FIGHTER.
Expert Work in the Ring by a MEX
lean GIrl.-A Wonderful Thrust.

lean Girl.-A Wonderful Thrust.
Indianapolis Journal Letter.
Just prior to the taking effect of the de-
cree against bull fighting. l was fortunate
enough to witness a contest in which one of
the most skillful, daring and expert of the
professional fighters of Mexico took lead
ing part This performer was young
woman. whose equal has probably never
appeared in the plaza de Toros." In this,
her farewell exhibition, Senorita Hernandez
advertised for the widest and fiercest bulls
the country could produce, and agreed to
fight them while wearing stills. The nov
city of young girl engaging in bull fight
handicapped by having stills fastened to
her feet was sufficient to attract vast
crowd. and on the day fixed for the event
fully 5000 persons found places to sit or
stand in the large amphitheater. The ami
mails provided for the occasion were small,
active, and wholly unframed, each having
his horns trimmed and polished until the
points were as bright and almost as sharp
as needles. Never was more expert
work done in this cruel sport than was
coolly performed by the Mexican girl
on that day. AS the bull, mad with rage,
would make his furious charge, she would
stand until he had approached within dis
lance of about three feet, when. suddenly
springing to one side, she would. as the
animal rushed furiously by. with one hand
slap him in the face with the red cloak with
which his anger had been first aroused,
while with the other hand she deXterously
thrust into his neck gaudy barbed ''ban-
derlla," causing HIM to roar with pain and
rage. Charge after charge was made by the
maddened brute, only to be eluded
by the native girl. while the bull
met the same treatment as before. The
little senorita played with him, plagued
him, and tortured him as cat would a
mouse, until the animal, bleeding and sore
and worn out with fatigue and pain. gave
up the contest and would fight no more
He had met his conqueror, and was taken
from the.ring.
In the next contest the fair Castilian was
under an advertised obligation, while yet
wearing the stills, to kill the bull with a
sword scarcely more than two feet in
length. This was to be done by the torea
dora at the time the animal was making
the charge. the fatal thrust to be given
while she was directly in front of and
fairly facing the bull.
The animal selected for this contest was
beautiful specimen of his race. Black as
coal, agile as cat, savage and wild, he
was no sooner within the arena than he was
ready for the battle. a fter he had been
permitted to make charge OF two to warm
him up to his work. the governor, who pre-
sided OH the occasion, gave signal and the
bugle sounded the death CALI The Sc.
nOrita with stills of one foot in height Sc
curely fastened to her limbs, received the
short sword. saluted the governor, and,
turning to her enemy, gave a shout of def
ance and waved her scarlet cloak to rouse his
anger. At this time the distance separat-
ing the antagonists was almost 200 feet.
TorO, quivering with excitement and paw
ing the earth in his rage, waited for no
second invitation. With flashing eyes and
head lowered to the ground, he started at
full speed for the object of his hate. The
brave girl waited until the beast was within
twenty feet, when, bracing herself firmly,
she held her sword at shoulder height, ready
for his coming When within about four
feet she threw her body suddenly forward,
gave a quick thrust with the sword. and,
without waiting to see the effect of the
blow, swung quickly around and again sa-
luted the governor. In the twinkling of an
eye she turned to face the bull, and as she
did so he dropped dead so close to her that
without moving from her position, she
placed one foot upon the neck OF her now
helpless enemy. The sword, directed by the
strong arm of the self-possessed girl, had
severed the spinal cord, and death was in
Simultaneous, and probably painless. 1t was
a perilous feat. skillfully and fearlessly
performed, and the slightest nervousness
on the part of the performer would prob
ably have resulted in her death. The great
audience. in recognition of the skill of the
brave toreadora. rose to its feet. and for
several moments there was shower of gold
and silver coins falling around the victorious
girl.